B eautician Shahnaz Husain offers tips and answers queries. Send your queries to askshahnaz@gmail.com
I've been swimming for the past three months. How do I get rid of the tan I've acquired? ? Anu
If you avoid sun-exposure as far as possible, the tan will wear off. Massage your skin daily with sesame seed oil before a bath. Three times a week, mix gram flour (besan) with curd and a little turmeric (haldi) into a paste and apply it on the exposed areas of your body. Wash it off after half an hour. You can also apply a cream containing lemon and turmeric daily.
How should lemon juice be applied on the lips? ? Kiruthika
Lemon juice should not be applied directly on the lips as it is too harsh. Add a few drops to cream of milk and then apply it daily on your lips. It will help lighten their colour and soften the skin. At night, apply pure almond oil on the lips, leaving it on overnight.
I am 25 and for the past few months acne has erupted on my face and chest. Do oily food and blood purifiers cause acne? Also, suggest an exercise that will reduce my hips. ? Khatija
Pimples and acne are the result of excessive oiliness of the skin. They can also be caused by stress. Taking blood purifiers should not cause acne, but your diet can aggravate the condition. Include fresh fruits, salads, sprouts and yoghurt in your daily diet. Drink 6 to 8 glasses of water daily. Add the juice of a lemon to a glass of water and drink it first thing in the morning. After washing your face, apply astringent lotion. Boil neem leaves in water. Cool and strain the liquid. Apply a paste of neem leaves on your face and chest. Apply sandalwood paste on the acne daily. After consulting your doctor, do the following exercise daily to reduce your hips. Lie on your back and roll your hip to the right side. Try to touch the floor on the right side with your left foot. Do the same on the left side, touching the floor with your right foot.
I sweat a lot. Suggest remedies for body odour. ? Priya
Be generous with the use of colognes. Colognes and Eau de Toilette consist mainly of water, or a mixture of alcohol and water, with only 2 to 5 per cent of perfume. They are lighter and their fragrance lingers. Colognes can be added to bath water. Or, add Eau de Cologne to a mug of water and use it as the last rinse. It has a cooling effect too. Bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) helps prevent body odour. Make a paste of baking soda and water and apply it under your arms. You can also add lemon juice to this paste. Leave it on for 10 minutes, before washing it off. Or, mix a little baking soda with talcum powder and apply it under your arms and on your feet. Potato slices can also be rubbed on areas where odour forms easily.
What does a face wash comprise? How should scrub, toner and moisturiser be used? I have combination skin, which looks dull. ? Raji
If you use face wash, you need not use soap. Face washes are cleansers, which are used like soap. Apply it on the face, rubbing gently to work up lather. Rinse it off with water. You may use a face wash two or three times a day. Scrubs may be used two or three times a week, preferably after cleansing in the morning. They should not be used on pimples, or on areas which are dry and sensitive. For oily skin with blackheads, a scrub may be used more often. Scrubs and masks help brighten dull skin. After cleansing, apply a toner. For oily skin, apply an astringent toner. Then apply moisturiser or sunscreen before going out in the sun. Moisturisers need not be used if the skin is oily, especially in hot weather. For combination skin, apply a light liquid moisturiser, if the skin feels dry or on the dry areas.
My skin is normal on some days and feels dry sometimes. Also, one cheek is drier than the other. ? Geeta
Ready-to-use face packs are available in stores. However, for normal to dry skin, mix two teaspoons each of wheat bran and ground almonds with egg white and one teaspoon each of honey and curd. It should be a paste which does not drip. If you do not wish to use egg, add more curd to get the right consistency. Apply it on your face, avoiding the lips and the area around your eyes. Wash it off after half an hour. You can mix a little honey with milk and apply it daily on areas where your skin is dry. Wash it off after 15 minutes.
